SW London girls independent/grammars thread 2020

[autumnnightsaredrawingin]

Last year, there were two amazing threads which were super helpful about exactly this, so I wanted to start a thread for girls due to start September 2020. If anyone from last year wants to contribute please do!

We have narrowed our choices down to 5, sadly not in the right postcode for Tiffin, and decided not to do the Sutton grammars.

So, she will be doing PHS, WHS, LEH, SHS and Woldingham. Also registered for Emanuel but we may pull that one.

Fyi, the lady at PHS also said that the offer letters would be sent 'mid-Feb' which she indicated would most likely arrive with us on about 14th Feb.

I think it's a bit like buying a house. You see lots, find one or two you really like. Then you need that second viewing to be very critical of it.
So I'd go to the offer holders events and try to get a feeling of whether this is the place for your DD rather than just an abstract child.
Distance is an obvious factor, though sounds like that doesn't help you.
Does one offer an activity that your DD really enjoys? Eg the hockey v lacrosse point.
And importantly what does your DD say? We've decided that if she has multiple offers we will let DD have the casting vote. She wrote exams for schools we are happy to send her to, so we are happy to go with the one where she gets "the feeling".

Ultimately these are all amazing schools so I think you land up differentiating on small details!

DD had her interview at LEH this week, so we're also done. She enjoyed it, liked the puzzle and said the teacher who interviewed her was really friendly.
Her school are trying really hard to keep it low key and just school as usual, which helps DD. Doesn't help me though!

We're expecting to hear from WHS at the end of next week, KGS the week after and LEH the week after that. So drawn out...

@almost231- we had a similar choice a couple of years ago between PHS and WHS but we live in Putney. There are loads of girls at both schools from both places and several families who have girls at both.
Results wise etc they are very similar but for us DD really didn't like PHS (we applied as so near) but loved WHS and I had a similar feeling and thought WHS would suit her much better. Some of her friends thought the opposite and all happy with their choices!
I do like the fact she has to get (easy) public transport to school and consequently is familiar with tubes, buses etc.
I'd say about half her year live in SW19 and SW20 which can be useful if they have a concert, play etc and can go home for a bit after school. DD will either come home briefly or go to a friends or just hang out in Wagamamas. Suspect similar at Putney.
I think PHS has more girls from 'North of the River'. Not so many at WHS.
Lots do go from LEH from Wimbledon as well though so I wouldn't worry about that. So much more space but DD likes being in the centre of Wimbledon so pros and cons!
WHS has buiding works which is making it a bit cramped at the moment but the girls don't seem to mind and I think PHS has more planned as well.
All good schools- go with your gut as well as practicalities!

Re- PHS and WHS, I guess one difference is where friends etc might live - eg WHS may draw girls from Merton, Sutton, Surrey etc as well as Wimbledon / Putney, whereas PHS will have greater numbers from Barnes, Fulham, etc?

Also, PHS’ overall GCSE results are not as consistently in the 90% plus for 9-7 grades as WHS. I’m not sure why this is, but sometimes PHS seem to have dip years?

In DDs year at WHS there are maybe 3 or 4 from Surrey and 5 or 6 from Fulham/Chelsea. Most are Wimbledon, Putney, Southfields, Earlsfield, Tooting, Wandsworth etc. Definitely SW postcodes!

I’d just go for the nearest one, almost. Even if it only saves half an hour in travel a day, it all adds up! The buses can be packed and it’s tricky when they’re carrying sports kits, etc and it only takes an accident in the A3 or roadworks for the whole of Putney Hill or Parkside to grind to a halt.

Another vote for the nearest school, it saves so much time over the years and if you can cut out public transport so much the better. I can concur with most WHS girls coming from SW19,18,20 with a handful from Fulham or further out in Surrey. It makes for easier social arrangements for the girls too.

We went for PHS over WHS. Because we haven’t experienced WHS it is difficult to compare but DD is really enjoying PHS. She travels on the 93 from Wimbledon and no dramas yet. Differences are languages - DD studies Italian during lunchtime, French and Mandarin. I don’t think Italian and Mandarin are available at WHS. She also prefers lacrosse over hockey. Those are the main tangible differences I think. The rest is choice. PHS and WHS both have building work but PHS due to finish much sooner. Hope that helps.

Thanks all so much for your replies. Was very helpful. Like me, my DD really liked all the schools she visited , she doesn’t seem to have any preference at all but that could change if / when friends start accepting offers. If we do get offers from the 3 remaining we’ll certainly go have another look and then if still no preference will go for the nearest I’m sure .

I would go for nearest one. They can be home in no time and it frees so much time for homework or just relaxing. Not relying on public transport is a bonus - girls coming to school by train were a bit stressed during the recent month long strike by south west trains.
Mandarin is available at WHS as a club (and can be taken to GCSE level), but not lacrosse.

I would not go for the nearest one, unless one of the journeys is seriously awful. I would look really carefully at curriculum and ethos again and make my choice on that. That's what I did, anyway. Has worked out very well so far.

Time is going sooooo slowly. Just want to know where DD is going! Good luck to those waiting for WHS results this week.

I heard some schools give offer letters earlier, like NLCS but is that true? even though website says mid feb last year people said came before...
anyone know?

Yes, sometimes the offers come in a bit earlier. We’re waiting for WH which is due by Friday but I seem to be checking the post every 5 mins this week so far ... and it’s only Monday 😫

WHS posted a day early last year ....

Ours are due 13/14 week to wait on Friday.

I'm away until Thursday starting my degree so only a week to go when I get back on Friday and DD1's 13th Birthday on Saturday - full on day.

She isn't as school orientated as her sister, she has ADD and anxiety so doesn't trust her own abilities to do the work.
She hasn't shown any intrest in if her sister was to get into FHSS but suddenly asked me questions on it this week and could she transfer to it if her sister got in?
Floored me a bit and I had to let her know I have no idea if you can do in year transfers etc. I assume she would have to sit the 11+ exam that DD2 has just sat, if they had space?
I think she is worried as her best friend in class is due to leave at the end of the year as she is in a military family and they are being transferred to a new base.
DD1 doesn't find it easy to make friends within her peer group.

Thanks for setting up this thread. We are now considering SHS after getting an offer and not getting PHS. Anyone keen on this school for secondary? Just wondering what people's impressions were as we're waiting on other offers before we make a final decision. Thanks

Julia, there are lots of SHS parents on these threads so you might do best to ask exact questions but as 1 of them I can say it's a large school with good transport links so dd come from central London & Guildford as well as all the areas around. The dd are put in classes by geographical area so your dd will be with people who live near by. It's very sporty & your dd needs to play at club/county level to be considered for an A or B hockey / netball team. The rowing is excellent and inclusive and starts in Year 8 but the boat house is in Teddington & involves lots of parental driving. There is no swimming or domestic science. The music is inclusive, (ie anyone can join a choir) but not of the standard of somewhere like LEH. The teaching is good and iPads used in a productive way. The dd overall seen happy and seem to find friendship groups across the classes. PM me if your want more details.

@Julia1972 when you say didn’t get PHS, do you mean didn’t get to the interview stage?

We have a place at Surbiton for September. We are waiting for the results of Putney and LEH. Honestly, I really liked Surbiton and we’d be very happy for DD to go if the other two don’t come through. Obviously I’m not a parent there though...

My DD is at Surbiton and loves it.
Happy to answer any questions - I answered a few last year and have always wondered how they got on !
The sport is amazing - my DD is in hockey B team despite playing no county or club hockey, and barely playing at state primary. The only hockey she does is at Surbiton -so it is totally possible to make the teams.

Thanks for Surbiton insight @chickenfried

How's the waiting going folks? I'm finding it torture here! WHS and Harrodian due on Saturday for us. Good luck all

Hi all,
My son had a KGS school interview. Does anyone know which kids are more likely to get offers as they interview quite a lot of children. Also any information on the school how is it academically, pastoral care, sports. Thank you.

Finding waiting v v v slow too - luckily everyone else in the household oblivious to it. We’re waiting on WHS sat and LEH and PHS week after. Exams seems so far away now.

I’ve got a few friends children at KGS. They love it . All their kids are very sporty but they say not everyone is. I think it’s pretty academic , tough to get into too so I’m sure anyone that gets in will find that fine.

Oh and getting an interview is v good so your DS must have done very well in exams. I know several boys this year that have likely places at grammars But didn’t get an interview at KGS